On the S/^rts Scene
Includes Retired Social Science professor
Four inducted into Sports Hall of Fame
By Cal Bryant (’73)
Sports Editor, The News-Herald
Chowan paid tribute to three former athletes
and a retired professor in late November when
they were inducted into the prestigious Sports
Hall of Fame at the eleventh annual banquet.
Those enshrined were Woodie Safrit (’64) of
Myrtle Beach, SC; Dr. Lisa Dabney (’75) of
Winterville; Wayne Yates (’61) of Apex; and
Warren G. Sexton, retired Social Science
professor of Murfreesboro.
The induction ceremonies were held in
Thomas Cafeteria before a capacity crowd of
friends, family and former athletes. Earlier in
the day, the honorees were introduced during
halftime ceremonies of the Chowan-Newport
News game in Garrison stadium.
During his 36-year teaching career at
Chowan, Warren Sexton stressed the importance
of strong academics. He was described by a
former student as having the ability to “make
the most-feared student-athlete shake inside his
proverbial boots.” The student added that
“inside of this ‘lion’ of an educator was the
heart of a kitty-cat as far as athletics were
concerned.”
“1 never imagined 36 years ago that I would
be standing here tonight,” stated Sexton, who
retired last May following a sparkling career
that included his 21-year chairmanship of the
Department of Social Science plus a 12-year
term as chairman of the Athletic Committee,
“I always stood firm on three major athletic
principles at Chowan,” Sexton noted. “Topping
that list was that a student-athlete’s main
purpose is education; two, to have the best
possible facilities to support our athletic
programs; and, three, to provide a good environ
ment for our fans.
“If I did make a contribution to the student-
athletes at Chowan, then 1 did it with the help of
my family. This (clutching his Hall of Fame
plaque) is something Warren Sexton didn’t
achieve alone. This is an accomplishment of the
Sexton family.”
Sexton, who refereed high school athletics
for 37 years, was referring to a family broadcast
team consisting of his wife, Carol,
son, Warren Jr., and daughter, Jean
Elizabeth, who provided radio
coverage of Chowan College football
games.
“You may not know this, but one
of the biggest reasons behind why
we’re gathered here tonight is Warren
Sexton,” stressed Dr. Bruce E.
Whitaker, president-emeritus who
hired Sexton back in 1959. “He was
instrumental in the founding of the
Braves Club and was a charter
member of that organization. He
believes, as I do, that the best
classroom in which to teach about
life is sports.”
Joining Sexton in the Hall of
Fame Class of 1995 were Dr. Lisa
Dabney, Woodie Safrit and Wayne
Yates.
Maintaining one of the highest
grade point averages in the history of
Chowan College athletics, Dabney
was a three-sport standout for the
Lady Braves from 1973 to 1975 by
excelling in volleyball, basketball
and tennis.
A team captain and All-Confer
ence performer in volleyball and
basketball, Dabney earned Female Athlete of the
Year honors in 1975 as well as Best All-Around
Student.
“My only regret is that my father (the late
Eugene Dabney, Jr.) isn’t here to see this, but I
know he’s looking in on us,” said Dr, Dabney,
presently a resident physician at Blackstone
(Va.) Family Practice. “All 1 did at Chowan was
what my parents asked and taught me to do —
study hard.”
Continued Dabney, “One of the first deci
sions I made as a young adult was to come to
Chowan College. It was a great place to grow
“He (Sexton) believes, as I
do, that the best classroom
in which to teach about
life is sports.*’
—Dr. Bruce E. Whitaker
President Emeritus
and learn and I’d hke to thank Coach (Janet)
Collins and the Braves for my Hall of Fame
nomination,”
Dr. B, Franklin Lowe, vice president for
academic affairs, made a proper identification of
Dabney during the induction presentation,
“If 1 were asked to describe the ideal student-
athlete, the name of Lisa Dabney would
immediately come to mind,” observed Lowe,
According to veteran athletic director and
former football coach James Garrison, one of
the best days of his life was when Woodie Safrit
made his decision to transfer from Western
Carolina College to Chowan,
“What Woodie became here at Chowan was
one of our favorite sons,” voiced Garrison, “He
was one of the best punters we ever had and
evidently he was very, very good because he is
one of 23 athletes we have had at Chowan who
have played professionally. Woodie Safrit was
the first.”
^ m.
Following his 1964 graduation, Safrit went
on to compete in the Southern Professional
League and the Continental Football league
before realizing his ultimate goal — the
National Football League. He spent one season
with the San Francisco 49ers and two years with
the Detroit Lions before health problems forced
an early retirement.
“I want to thank Chowan College, especially
Jim Garrison,” said Safrit, who currently is one
of the top real estate agents in Myrtle Beach,
SC. “It’s very hard to not get choked up. Thank
you so very much.”
A native of Apex, Yates was another fortu
nate transfer to Chowan after attending Baylor
University for one year.
Affectionately called the “Roadrunner” by
his basketball teammates, Yates was a two-time
All-Conference performer for the Braves in
1959-61.
“We came here together in 1959,” said
former teammate Mike Graffeo, who inducted
his friend. “Wayne had that North Carolina
twang and I had a thick Boston accent, but we
communicated just fine on the basketball court.
He was a blur on the court. That’s why we
named him the Roadrunner and he ‘beep-
beeped’ his way onto the All-Conference team.”
“I was so surprised when I got the phone call
about the Hall of Fame,” admitted Yates, who
now resides in Pensacola, Fla. “I had two
brothers who also attended Chowan, and I
wanted to make sure they had the right one.”
In perhaps the lightest moment of the
evening, Yales’ mother, when introduced, asked
why he hadn’t mentioned that she was a
basketball player as well.
“You taught me everything I know about the
game,” answered Yates to his mother.
Each of the new inductees was presented a
Hall of Fame ring — Dabney by Coach Collins
on behalf of King Athletic Supply; Safrit by
Gattis Hodges representing Georgia-Pacific
Resins; Sexton by Herman Henderson of
Henderson Child Care; and, Yates by Jack
Goldberg on behalf of the Braves Club.
The eleventh group
to be enshrined in
Chowan's Sports
Hall of Fame
included, left to
right: Wayne Yates
of Apex, Woodie
Safrit of Myrtle
Beach, SC, Dr Lisa
Dabney of
Blackstone, VA, and
Warren Sexton of
Murfreesboro.
CHOWAN TODAY, December 1995 — PAGE 15